Michelangelo is famous for saying about his stunning ability to carve, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
When we desire to "put on" the virtues laid out for us in Colossians 3, we must begin with "carving" out the things in our lives that are not virtues. Verses 5 through 9 remind us, in case we have forgotten: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry. . . . anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, [lying]. Ouch! Ready to start carving?
Not until you remember one more thing. Back up to Colossians 2:11: In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. Do you remember that when Abraham and his family were circumcised, it signified his belonging to God? He and all his household belonged to the Creator God, who had great things planned for them. And by the circumcision of Christ, the shedding of His blood not yours, you too belong to this Creator God. And your heart has been circumcised by Him, so that your belonging has made you different. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you (Ezekiel 36:26).
You have the power to put to death those things that choke out the virtues that show you belong to God. So carve away with the help of God's Spirit that lives within you. "Set your minds on things above" (Col. 3:2), on Him, who alone enables you to do it.
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